ACIM Certification – A Course in Miracles

CIM qualifications are the most popular marketing qualification and are recognised by employers and included in job specifications. At MMC Learning we are proud to be one of the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s longest standing Accredited Study Centres.

A Course in Miracles is a spiritual self-study curriculum, not a religion or a cult. Its main tenet is that the physical world we see is a mass illusion and our only reality is spirit.
What is ACIM?

Described by the New York Times in 2019 as “an esoteric bible that has gone mainstream,” A Course in Miracles is a major influence on the worldwide movement of people who identify as “spiritual but not religious.” While it uses Christian symbols, ACIM is not a religion nor is it a cult. Instead, it is a self-study spiritual thought system that encourages students to practice forgiveness on a moment-by-moment basis.

According to the Course, the world we live in is a massive illusion. It teaches that our real identity is a loving, peaceful, eternal part of God and that the only path to truth lies through forgiveness. It is through this path that we will return to our natural state of love, oneness, and happiness.

The Course is a comprehensive teaching that encompasses several aspects of the mind, including belief systems, emotions, and perception. It offers a unique combination of reinterpreted Christianity, Western psychological theory, and Eastern metaphysics. It challenges many traditional notions of Christianity, such as sin and the crucifixion. It also argues that Jesus was an advanced being who was fully cognizant of the illusory nature of the physical universe.

Although the Course is not a faith, it has its own organization that oversees its teachings. It has no membership lists or churches dedicated to it, and there is no central authority to dictate or give verdicts. This freedom of conscience has enabled a large number of people who have been influenced by the Course to teach it in various ways, and to bring its message to the world.
ACIM Study Guide

A Course in Miracles is a self-study curriculum for spiritual growth that mixes Christian terminology and mysticism with perennial philosophy and modern psychological insights. It has gained a growing following, especially among those involved in attitudinal healing, thanks to the popularity of authors like Marianne Williamson and Iyanla Vanzant, and its teachings have begun to penetrate Unity churches and prisons.

ACIM is a book-set that consists of a 669-page Text, a 466-page Workbook with 365 daily lessons and a 92-page Teacher’s Manual. Supposedly channeled by Helen Schucman (1909-81), who claimed to have received it from an “inner voice” identifying itself as Jesus Christ, it has since spread worldwide as an influential spiritual text.

The work contains a number of resonant and profoundly life-transforming ideas, but it is also complex and difficult to understand. Many people spend years reading and working with the Course, often without progressing significantly. The Understanding ACIM Series provides a proven study plan that can save students years of intellectual struggle and help them to finally comprehend the Course’s major principles.

Miller discusses the importance of ACIM’s major themes, such as forgiveness, the illusory nature of the ego-self, and living in an illusory world. He examines criticisms of ACIM from a variety of spiritual writers, as well as assessments of the Course’s Christianity and secularism. He concludes with a personal essay that reflects on the impact of ACIM on his own spiritual development.

One of the most significant problems with ACIM is its noxious exclusivist stance that denies its students any opportunity to study other spiritual texts or paths. This conceit borders on hubris and is particularly troubling for proponents of India’s mystical Advaita tradition, which counsels that the illusory world is an emanation out of pure Divine playfulness (lila) and loving Grace.

Another problem with the Course is its theology, which posits a dualistic worldview and teaches that humans are special because they are God’s Sons. This view is a clear violation of Advaita’s most fundamental teaching that all entities are ultimately one in the Supreme Being, or Brahman.
ACIM Workbook

The workbook is the practical companion to the ACIM text and contains 365 daily lessons designed to bypass the mind of the ego. These lessons train the mind to accept a different perception of everyone and everything. They offer an experiential understanding of the principles of forgiveness and love that are the foundation of ACIM.

The “Dummies” format demystifies the original ACIM workbook lessons by replacing unclear pronouns and references with their acim meanings, which clarifies the purpose or meaning of each lesson. All antecedent references are replaced in bold print to allow easy reference to the original ACIM lesson. Each lesson is then followed by an explanatory note to foster discussion and clarity, but these notes do not limit ideas or prevent individual interpretation.

It’s important to understand that the ACIM workbook is a practice, not a regimen. It takes a while to establish the consistency required to build a habit of daily practice. You may need to take occasional breaks, but these should not be long or frequent. Consistent practice is the only way to form the habits that will sustain your spiritual growth.

Many of the ideas in the workbook will be new to you, and some will seem startling. Some of them you will find hard to believe and some you may actively resist. However, it is not the ideas that are important; it is their use that counts. The point is not to judge them, and you should remember that you need not even welcome them.
ACIM Study Groups

A Course in Miracles is a modern, self-study spiritual thought system that has three parts: the Text (365 lessons), the Workbook, and the Manual for Teachers. Its goal is to shift the focus of your mind from fear to Love, and this changes how you interact with others. You begin to see a world where frowns are replaced with smiles, and stress is replaced with peace.

Many ACIM study groups focus on secondary materials, rather than directly engaging the Course material. While these are valuable, it is best to have at least some group sessions that directly engage the Course material. For example, groups could discuss the meaning of a specific passage or lesson, or the principles that are outlined in the Workbook and the Manual for Teachers.

If you are interested in starting an ACIM Study Group, it is important to have a place to meet and have a time to meet each week. The best option is a function hall or some space at your local church where you can hold the meetings. The most important part is to have a time to start and end the meeting with prayer. This can be a prayer from A Course in Miracles, your own, or simply silence. You can also include music, ACIM YouTube videos and a potluck dinner, simple snack or tea.

You can use the search feature below to find an in-person or online ACIM study group near you. You will need to agree to the terms of use to use this tool. Once you agree, your location will be displayed as a placemark on the map. You can then click on a placemark to view more information about the group.